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airstreamcaravel · 01-31-2003, 06:04 PM

IT would seem that many of our Forum brothers and sisters are managing to arrange Forum rallies in many other regions of the country.

What about us slush puppies in the Midwest? It would be great to have a Forum rally in the MIDWEST! I know we have Forum friends in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. Indiana and other surronding states would of course be welcome.

Anyone interested? How about you Kevin? Could we borrow the family farm??

Lets get chatting! The weather has got to break sometime!
Always does!

DMC

Jabba · 01-31-2003, 06:24 PM

DMC,

We'd be interested, there was another thread on it, that I kept reviving with no luck. Let's run with this. Who else is interested?

john hd · 01-31-2003, 06:30 PM

would like to know more.

was going over plans with the better half, might be able to fit this in.

john

overlander64 · 01-31-2003, 08:24 PM

Greetings All!

Yes, I am definitely interested. My problem may be that I am already getting my schedule a bit booked including the last two weekends in May, the last two weeks in June and the first week in July (WBCCI International Rally), July 17-20 Sheyboygan, WI Vintage Airstream Club Rally, and July 30 through August 3 (Statue of Liberty Rally).

I wish that I could offer my farm, but it would violate the terms of the lease that I have granted on the land.

I would have two suggestions of good locations:

The DuQuoin State Fair Grounds in DuQuoin Illinois has a very nice facility and if I remember what I read in some publicity in the Southern Illinoisan , they are actively promoting the Fair Grounds as a destination for RV Clubs and even have 30 AMP electric service as well as water and sewer connections in their camp area. Information can be found at:

DuQuoin State Fair Grounds, DuQuoin, IL

My second suggestion, Giant City State Park in Makanda, IL would be a little more problematic as it relates to accommodations. It is an absolutely gorgeous location with one of the best restaurants in the region, but their campground has a finitely limited number of sites, and if my information is correct their group camping area does not have any utility services - - and to make matters worse, they do not accept reservations for any of their camping accommodations. Information can be found at:

Giant City State Park, Makanda, Illinois

Kevin

Airstream402001 · 01-31-2003, 09:27 PM

Hello fellow Airstreamers
I am interested in a Midwest rally.
The Duquoin site sounds fine.
The obvious question is..........when?

Cliff in Indiana
WBCCI #6960

Jabba · 02-01-2003, 04:02 AM

What about someplace in Northern Indiana, to centralize it a little? I know there were a couple of us from Michigan and Ohio discussing this before.

john hd · 02-01-2003, 04:11 AM

how 'bout the u.p. eh?

maybe the copper range or escanaba area?

john

Jabba · 02-01-2003, 04:19 AM

Da U.P. would be a destination, I just don't know about interest heading north (drive time). John, what are you doing playing on the computer so early? I got an excuse, I'm at work.

Jabba · 02-01-2003, 04:30 AM

Are you discussing Duquoin that shows up on mapquest by St. Louis? I don't know if we'd be able to make that one. It'd be 9.5 hours from Detroit. Have to discuss further with my better half...

john hd · 02-01-2003, 04:36 AM

jason

hear ya about the drive time, just tossing out ideas.

i'm up early because of my dogs, they don't recognize weekends.

john

airstreamcaravel · 02-01-2003, 06:35 AM

Kevin and All!

Kevin,

As the Major Domo (he who has the most airstreams)(and caraven experience)(and time constranits)of the group, I kindly request your available dates.

Since we look to be drawing our friends from surronding states,
maybe something more centrally located would work better?

I have done the drive to and fro Detroit more times than I can remember! There are MANY good campgrounds in the middle of Illinois that would work well. Some thoughts.... Amboy ....
Cut Rock .... etc.

We know who, why, and what .... need to nail down when, and where. Next issue? The grub!!

Dave

john hd · 02-01-2003, 06:54 AM

how about the indiana dunes state park?

never camped there, but it has a central location.

i'll deferr to someone who has......

john

airstreamcaravel · 02-01-2003, 07:18 AM

That whole area of S.W. Michigan is beautiful! That would be a great location. And like our friends out west ... we could hang out along the puddle and then go inland to the desert ... kinda...

I will search for campground around there. Would be fun to be there around the passage of the TALL SHIPS. Lake Yachts
meet land yachts!

What are everyone elses thoughts on that general location?

Not easy to get a quorum, within a forum!

Dave

Jabba · 02-01-2003, 07:37 AM

That would probably work better for us. A few of us have kids, so it would be even better to have activities nearby for them. Need to check into reservation policies for State Parks, here in MI you can reserve up to 6 months in advance, anything on the water goes fast. When I get home, I'll check the new Woodall's and relay any info I can find.
Somewhere like that would equate to a 4@ hour or less drive for all respondents thus far, seems fair.

overlander64 · 02-01-2003, 09:41 AM

Greetings All!

I am actually as close or closer to the more Northern locals suggested than to DuQuoin myself. DuQuoin is a bit more than 330 miles from me and Makanda is just a bit more than 350 miles. They are so familiar to me because my family farm is only about 20 miles South of Makanda, and I make the trip at least once a month.

I am ready for an adventure to any of the places mentioned. I might add to the mix of more Northerly suggestions:

Kankakee River State Park, Kankakee, IL (approximately 60 miles South of Chicago). See:

Kankakee River State Park

Turkey Run State Park, Marshall, IN (approximately 215 miles Southeast of Chicago). See:

Turkey Run State Park

Rustic Barn Campground, Kieler, WI (approximately 190 miles Northwest of Chicago). See:

Rustic Barn Campground

All three of the above locations offer a variety of activities with something to appeal to most everyone. Rustic Barn probably has the least on-site activity, but it is less than 20 minutes from Dubuque, Iowa where some wonderful Mississippi River excursions are offered throughout the summer from the Ice Harbor. The "Field of Dreams" is less than an hour away, and for those interested in antiquing and Victorian era history, Mineral Point, Wisconsin is only about 45 minutes away - - or - - Galena, IL is only about 30 minutes away.

Kankakee River State Park and Turkey Run State Park both have a number activities available on-site with numerous other attractions nearby. I have not traveled to either of these parks with great frequency recently, but do stop whenever the opoortunity presents itself.

Kevin

airstreamcaravel · 02-01-2003, 02:42 PM

Kevin,

When would you be available? I think your dance card is the busiest (and almost full).

Lets try to figure out a date ... availability of sites would help us narrow the where? down.

I would hate for us all to agree on where and then find out its not available when we have all agreed to a date.

Dave

apple 1 · 02-01-2003, 02:55 PM

State parks may be difficult to get us all together in one area and most only have electrical hook up. The trailer life campground lists a private campground at Michigan City Indiana which has 100 sites is close to the Indiana dunes and other attractions and has a pool and playground. This could be a good central location for all of us from the midwest. What is a good date for most? I have plans for the 15-18 of May but could do early May or anytime in June.

Jim

Jabba · 02-01-2003, 04:09 PM

Thus far, we have nothing going in June, so that month is completely open for us!

mtbob · 02-01-2003, 04:36 PM

We have a trip somewhat scheduled to be in Carbondale Ill on May 9 (depends on the WAR), and we would be up for a meeting with everyone. Our son, who is a career Marine (19 yrs so far) is supposed to graduate from college there. If things didn't work out we could possibly come anyway.

mtbob

overlander64 · 02-01-2003, 07:05 PM

Greetings All!

The first two weeks in June are open for me. The only possible fly in the ointment for me would be if we would have a large number of snow days that could push our last day of school as late as June 6. We have only had one snow day thus far so it is looking better every day. The second week in August would also be a possibility for me, but I am nearly booked up from June 15 through about August 6.

I hadn't thought about the untility availability in state parks that have group camping areas. In each of the Wagon Wheel Caravans that I have joined, we stayed in a number of state parks utilizing their group camping areas - - generally no hookups, but as we were usually traveling early in the season the lack of utilities wasn't generally noticed. Water was generally easily available, and in two cases gray water dump sites were available near the group camp area as well. I too, would hate to be without 30 AMP electric much past the middle of June.

Kevin